Former Hong Kong triathlon hero Andrew Wright slams local governing body
Ex-athlete, now coach, says he wishes he hadn't kept triathlon in Sports Institute four years ago, because nothing has changed since
Andrew Wright, who saved triathlon's elite status at the Hong Kong Sports Institute four years ago, has slammed the sport's local administrators after its failure to medal in Incheon left it on the brink of losing that status again.
Wright's eighth-place finish at the Games in Guangzhou four years ago was enough for triathlon to hit HKSI performance benchmarks and survive for another lucrative four-year funding cycle - but he now feels that lifeline prevented necessary sweeping changes.
I was responsible for retaining the funding four years ago which I highly regret
"I was responsible for retaining the funding four years ago which I highly regret," Wright said.
Triathlon's failure to medal in Incheon means it seems certain to lose its status at the HKSI.
"Hopefully, things will change and maybe the [committee] members and coaches will be held accountable for why the sport is in this same position when we are relying on the Asian Games again to remain in the Sports Institute," Wright said.
But Hong Kong Triathlon Association president Eric Chan Kit-bun brushed aside Wright's criticism and said he would try to negotiate with the HKSI.
"I believe we did very well in Incheon," Chan said. "We had a young squad and they performed to their best and we are proud of them. I don't think this is the end of triathlon at the Sports Institute. I still have hope we can continue and I will talk to them.